Slovenia’s talisman Luka Dončić opened EuroBasket 2025 by posting a rare statistical line—30+ points, 5+ assists and 5+ steals—in a narrow loss to Poland, then followed it with 39 against France in Katowice. The opener placed him alone in the event’s history books for that specific combination, reflecting how his usage shapes every possession. Against France, he found free throws and rim pressure while still creating advantages for teammates against a deep rotation of defenders.
The task for Slovenia is as familiar as it is challenging: maintain defensive solidity when Dončić rests and convert open catch‑and‑shoots that flow from his gravity. The path to the Round of 16 remains accessible if Slovenia can translate stretches of dominance into end‑game execution. With the schedule compressing, managing foul trouble around him will be as important as drawing up the ATO plays that free him late.
For opponents, limiting transition threes and cutting off his left‑to‑right crossover into step‑back space remains the scouting headline—but few have solved it for 40 minutes.
The group phase runs from August 27 to September 4 across Riga (Group A), Tampere (Group B), Limassol (Group C) and Katowice (Group D). The Round of 16 is single-elimination on September 6–7, followed by quarterfinals on September 9–10, semifinals on September 12, and the final on September 14 in Riga. Twenty-four teams play five group games each, with the top four in every group advancing. These dates and the multi-host setup are defined by FIBA for EuroBasket 2025 and shape the tactical choices teams make during the first week.
